Author's release of new cybercrime novel coincides with wife's 40-year anniversary at Diss Publishing

A South Norfolk author will celebrate the release of his debut novel at Diss Publishing – at the same time his wife celebrates 40 years of working there.

David Crawford’s Hook, Line and Scammer: A Story about Relationships, Cybercrime, and Justice hits the shelves today, and next month he will visit the bookshop to sign copies and speak to buyers of the sci-fi thriller.

In circumstances stranger than fiction, Mr Crawford’s wife, Sally, also just so happens to be celebrating her 40th anniversary working there.

“It’s a complete coincidence,” said Mr Crawford, 51, who has two children with Sally and lives in Brewers Green Lane, Diss.

“I didn’t think about doing a book signing until one of Sally’s colleagues said ‘you know we do them here’.

“She’s nervous because I’m stepping into her world – and it has been her world for 40 years.”

Mrs Crawford, 53, who works as a sales assistant at the Mere Street store, joined as a 13-year-old in the early 1980s.

“She’s been there for longer than the current owners,” said Mr Crawford. “Everyone knows her and she knows everybody.”

Mr Crawford spent the best part of a year penning the novel, which follows the story of Elizabeth, who is caught in a web of cybercrime after looking for love online.

He was inspired by his own work as at global chief technology officer at Norwich-based wine company Naked Wines.

“I had always believed that everybody has one book in them, so I decided to test the theory,” he said.

“Ian Fleming said write between 1,000 and 2,000 words every day so I did so, seven days a week for seven months.

“Cybercrime is a big thing in the world in which I operate, but, in corporate, it’s a bit boring.

“So I tried to think about how the general public would interact with it, such as catfishing.”

Catfishing is the practice in which people will lie about their identity online, often with sinister intentions.

The book quickly caught the attention of publisher Austin Macauley, which signed an agreement to print it.

“I’m pretty calm about it,” added Mr Crawford. “I never really expected much, and I didn’t do it for sales; I did it for me.

“I’m just really proud that I have taken it through to being published.”

The book signing will take place on October 8, from 11am to 2pm.